Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Proverbs · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Verſ. 1. Every wiſe woman buildeth her houſe.]
QUavis pia & perita. Every holy and handy woman buildeth her houſe; not onelyonly by bearing and breeding up children, as Rachel and Leah builded the houſe of Iſrael, Ruth, 4.11. but by a prudent and provident preventing of loſſes and dangers, as Abigail, as alſo by a careful plotting, and putting every thing to the beſt: like as a Carpenter that is to build an houſe, laies the plot and platform of it firſt in his brain, forecaſts in his mind how every thing ſhall be, and then ſo orders his ſtuff, that nothing bee cut to waſte. Lo ſuch is the guiſe of the good houſewife. As the husband is as the head from whom all the ſinews do flow; ſo ſhee is as the hands into which they flow, and enable them to do their office.
But the fooliſh plucketh it down with her hands] With both hands earneſtly: ſhee undoes the family,Sicut ut liguo vermis, ita perdit virum ſuum mulier malefica. Hier. whereof ſhee is the calamity, bee ſhee never ſo witty, if withall ſhee bee not religious and thrifty, heedy and handy. Bee the huſband never ſo frugal, if the wife bee idle, or laviſh, or proud, or given to gadding and goſſipping, &c. hee doth but draw water with a ſieve, or ſeek to pull a loaded cart through a ſandy way without the help of a horſe; it little boots him to beſtir himſelf, for hee puts his gets into a bag with holes, Hag. 1.6. Hee labours in the very fire, Hab. 2.15. as Cowper Biſhop of Lincolne did, whoſe wife burnt all his Notes that hee had been eight years in gathering, leſt hee ſhould kill himſelf with over much ſtudy (for ſhee had much ado to get him to his meals) ſo that hee was forced to fall to work again,Young, his benefit of Afflict. 153. and was eight years in gathering the ſame Notes wherewith hee compoſed his Dictionary, that uſeful book. How much happier in a wife was that learned Gul. Budaeus? Conjux mea, ſaith hee, ſic mihi morem gerit, ut non tractet negligentius libros meos quam liberos, &c. My wife ſeeing mee bookiſh, is no leſs diligent about my Books, than about my Barus, whom ſhee breeds up with ſingular care and tenderneſs. How well might hee have done (having ſuch a learned helper) as a Country man of his did, of whom Thuanus reporteth, quod ſingulis annis ſingulos libros & liberos, Reip. dederit, that hee ſet forth every year a book and a childe,Andreas Tiraquellius. a book and a childe? But this by the way onelyonly.
Verſ. 2. Hee that walketh in his uprightneſs, feareth the Lord] Hee is in the fear of the Lord all day long, Prov. 23.17. hee walketh in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghoſt, Act. 11.31. The fear of the Lord is upon him, ſo that hee takes heed and does it, 2 Chron. 19.7. for hee knows it ſhall bee well with them that fear God, that fear before him, Eccleſ. 8.12. Gods Covenant was with Levi of life and peace, for the fear wherewith hee feared God, and was afraid before his Name. Hence the Law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: hee walked with God in peace and equity, and did turn many from iniquity, Mal. 2.5, 6. Hee that truly fears God, is like into Cato, of whom it is ſaid, that hee was Homo virtuti ſimillimus, and that hee never did well, that hee might appear to do ſo, ſed quia aliter facere non potuit, but becauſe hee could not do otherwiſe.
But hee that is perverſe in his waies, despiſeth him] Sets him aſide, departs from his fear, dares to do that before him, that hee would bee loth to do before a grave perſon. Thus David deſpiſed God, when hee defiled his neighbours wife, 2 Sam. 12.9. Not but that even then hee had God for his chief end, but hee erred in the way, thinking hee might fulfil his luſt, and keep his God too (hee would not forgo God upon any terms) as Solomon thought to retain his wiſdome, and yet to purſue his pleaſures. Hence his partial and temporary Apoſtacy (as the word here rendred perverſe importeth) his warping and writhing from the way of righteouſneſs (as the Septnagint here interpret it) which was interpretative, foreign …ortuoſe incedensa deſpiſing of God, a ſaying, Hee ſeeth it not.
Verſ. 3. In the mouth of the fooliſh, is a rod of pride] wherewith hee beats others, and layes about him like a Mad-man; or rather like a mad Dog, hee bites all he meets, and barks againſt God himſelf: till he procure the hate of God and men, and ſmart for his petulancy; being beaten at length with his own rod, as the Lion beats himſelf with his own tayl.
But the lips of the wiſe ſhall preſerve them] From the aſperſion of falſe and fooliſh tongues. Their good names are oyled, ſo that evil reports will not ſtick to them. Dirt will ſtick upon a mud wall, not ſo upon marble. Or if they lye under ſome undeſerved reproach for a ſeaſon, either by a real or verbal Apologie they wade out of it, as the eclipſed Moon, by keeping her motion, wades out of the ſhadow, and recovers her ſplendor, Iſa. 54.17.
Verſ. 4. Where no Oxen are, the Crib is clean] The Barn and Garners are empty. Neque mola, neque farina, no good to bee got without hard labour of men and Cattel. Let the idle mans Motto be that of the Lilly, Neque laborant, neque neut. They neither toyl nor ſpin, Matth. 6.28. Man is born to toyl, as the ſparks fly unwards, Job 5.7. And Spinſter they ſay is a term given the greateſt women in our Law. Our lives are called the lives of our hands, Iſa. 57.10. becauſe to be maintained by the labour of our hands.
But much increaſe is by the ſtrength of the Oxe] This is one of thoſe beaſts, that ſerve ad eſum & ad uſum, and are profitable both alive and dead. An Heathen counſelleth good husbands that would thrive in the world, to get firſt an Houſe, then a Wife, and then an Oxe that luſtily ploweth, and bringeth in much increaſe. Bede applies this text to painful Preachers (ſet forth by Oxen, 1 Cor. 9.9. Rev. 4.7. for their tolerance and tugging at the work) where theſe labour luſtily, there is (commonly) a harveſt of holineſſe,foreign of foreign duſt. a crop of comfort. Only they muſt be duſtily diligent.
Verſ. 5. A faithful witneſſe will not lie] Nec prece nec precio, he cannot lend an oath for a need before a Magiſtrate. Nay, hee will not lye upon any condition. See the note on chap. 13.5.
But a falſe witneſſe will utter lyes] Or, he that telleth lyes will be a falſe witneſſe: he that makes light of a lye, will not ſtick at Perjury. That was a foul blur to the Romans of old (if true) that Mirrhanes the Perſian General chargeth upon them, Romanis promittere promptum eſt, Procop. lib. 1. de bel. Perſi…promiſſis autem quanquam juramento firmatis minimè ſtare. The Romans will preſently promiſe any thing, but perform no promiſe though confirmed with an oath. Of the Romiſts at this day it is written by an Italian (no ſtranger to the Court of Rome,) that their Proverb is, Mercatorum eſt, non Regum, ſtare juramentis? It is for Merchants, not for Princes, to ſtand to what they have ſworn. Fides cum haeretic is non eſt ſervanda is their poſition: and their practice is according. They play with Oathes as the Monkey doth with his Collar, which he doth ſlip on for his Maſters pleaſure, and ſlip off again for his own. Paſcenius ſcoffs King James for the invention of the Oath of Allegiance.
Verſ. 6. A ſcorner ſeeketh wiſdome, and findeth it not] Or, he ſeeketh wiſdome, and he ſeeketh it not. He ſeeketh it not ſeriouſly, ſeaſonably, duly: he ſeeks it as a Coward ſeeks his adverſary, with a hope he ſhall not find him: or a man ſeeks his falſe coyn, which he hath no joy to look upon. What's truth ſaid Pilate? in a jear to Chriſt; but ſtaid not the anſwer. How can this man give us his fleſh to eat, ſaid thoſe carnal Capernaites? John. 6. and away they went; who if they had ſtayed out the Sermon, might have been ſatisfied in the point. Herod ſought to ſee Chriſt, but never ſent for him, nor went to him: and when the Lord Chriſt was brought before him, he looked upon him no otherwiſe than as upon ſome Jugler to ſhew him ſome Tricks, and make him ſport; and is therefore anſwered with ſilence.
But knowledge is eaſie to him that doth underſtand] In any Science the worſt is at firſt: as the root of the Herb Moly in Homer, is ſaid to bee black and unſightly, but the leaf lovely, and the fruit pleaſant. The more a man ſees into heavenly Myſteries, the more hee may. I love them that love me,Prov. 8.17. ſaith Wiſdome, and thoſe that ſeek me early ſhall find me: Provided that they be not proud perſons, but come with a deſire to learn, and a reſolution to practiſe. Hee that comes to a fountain to fill his pitcher, muſt firſt waſh it, and then put the mouth of it downward to take up water: So hee that would have heavenly knowledge,Deut. 33.3. muſt firſt quit his heart of corrupt affections, and high conceits, (Intus exiſtens prohibet alienum) and then humble himſelf at Gods feet, every one to receive his words. See the Note on Chap. 8.9.
Verſ. 7. Go from the preſence of a fooliſh man] If hee bee a proud fool, as verſ. 6. a ſcorner and derider of good counſel, and one that knows not how to liſp out the leaſt ſyllable of ſavoury language: Break off ſociety with ſuch, as ſoon as may bee; for what good can bee gotten by their company or conference? Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thiſtles? They infect the very air they breathe upon,Dabhar a word, Debher a Peſt. and are therefore called foreign, Peſts (according to the Septuagint) Pſal. 1.1. their tongues have the very plague in them, their breath as fire ſhall devour you, Iſa. 33.10. Non poteſt vir ille fine convitiis quenquam à quo diſſentit vel in leviſſimis nominare, ſaith Dr. Rivet concerning Biſhop Montague. That man hath not the power to forbear railing at any one that diſſents from him, though in never ſo ſmall a matter. Is there any good to bee gotten by ſuch?2 Tim. 2.17. Do not their words eat as a gangrene?
Verſ. 8. The wiſdome of the prudent is to underſtand his way] His wiſdome begins in the right of himſelf, and ends in the right knowledge of God, that hee may walk worthy of God in all well-pleaſing, worthy of the calling wherewith hee is called, that high and heavenly calling, Heb. 2.1. to the fruition of high and heavenly priviledges, to an Angelical and convincing converſation, ſuch as may draw hearts, or daunt them. Wee uſe to ſay of him that knows his place, and carries himſelf accordingly, Such a man underſtands himſelf well enough: So here.
But the folly of fools is deceit] Or, is to underſtand deceit, to know the Devils depths, to ſearch his skull for carnal arguments that they may cum ratione inſanire, bee mad with ſhew of reaſon, and deceive the hearts of the ſimple. This their way is their folly; yet their poſterity (as wiſe as their fool-fathers) approve their ſayings, abbet their practices, Pſal. 49.13.
Verſ. 9. Fools make a mock of ſin] A ſport or paſtime of it, Prov. 10.23. (See the Note there) they dance with the Devil all day, and yet think to ſup with Chriſt. But what ſaith the Heathen Hiſtorian, Nae illi falſi ſunt qui diverſiſſim as res expectant, ignaviae voluptatem, & praemia virtutis. In good truth they are utterly out, that take their ſwinge in ſin, and yet look for the reward of vertue. No, their ſweet meat muſt have ſowr ſawce. God alſo will laugh at their deſtruction, and mock when their fear commeth: And then they all ſhall bee damned that had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs, 2 Theſſ. 2.12. yea double-damned, becauſe they jeared, when they ſhould have feared, 2 Pet. 2.13.
But among the righteous there is favour] That, though they ſin of infirmity, yet for as much as they are ſenſible and ſorrowful for their failings, and ſee them to confeſſion, God will never ſee them to their confuſion. Homo agnoſcit, Deus ignoſcit, Man repenteth, and God remitteth; yea, hee compaſſeth his returning people with favour as with a ſhield, hee re-accepts them with all ſweetneſs through Chriſt, who is the propitiation for their ſins, 1 Joh. 2.2.
Verſ. 10. The heart knoweth his own bitterneſs] None can conceive the terrors and torments of a heart that lyes under the ſenſe of ſin, and fear of wrath. A little water in a leaden veſſel is heavy. Some can bear in their grief better than others: But all that are under this affliction have their back burden. Jobs ſtroak was heavier than his groaning, and yet his complaint was bitter too. Chap. 23.2. Some holy men (as Mr. Leaver) have deſired to ſee their ſin in the moſt ugly colours,Dr. Sibbes. and God hath heard them. But yet his hand was ſo heavy upon them, that they went alwayes mourning to their graves: And thought it fitter to leave it to Gods wiſdome to mingle the portion of ſorrow, than to bee their own chooſers.
And the ſtranger doth not intermeddle with his joy] None but ſuch as are of the family of Faith, can conceive the ſurpaſſing ſweetneſs of ſpiritual joy.Gal. 6. The Cock on the dunghil knows not the worth of this Jewel. It is joy unſpeakable, 1 Pet. 1.8. Such as none feel but thoſe that ſtir up ſighs unutterable, Rom. 8.26. It is joy unſpeakable, and full of glory, a hanſel of Heaven, a foretaſte of eternal life. It is the peace that paſſeth all underſtanding; they that have it,Phil. 4.7. underſtand not the full of it, nor can relate the one half of it. Paul ſaid ſomewhat to the point, when hee ſaid, I do over-abound exceedingly with joy: foreign. 2 Cor. 7.4. Chryſoſt.but words are too weak to utter it. Father Latimer ſaid ſomewhat, when hee ſaid it was the ſweet-meats of the feaſt of a good conſcience. But ſermo non valet exprimere, experimento opus eſt. It is a thing fitter to bee beleeved, than poſſible to bee diſcourſed. Tell a man never ſo long what a ſweet thing hony is, hee can never beleeve you ſo well, as if himſelf taſte it. Thoſe that never yet taſted how good the Lord is, are far from intermedling with the juſt mans joy.Act. & Mon. fol. 1668. The World wonders (ſaith Mr. Philpot Martyr) how wee can bee ſo merry in ſuch extreme miſery. But our God is omnipotent, which turneth miſery into felicity. Beleeve mee, there is no ſuch joy in the world, as the people of Chriſt have under the Croſs: I ſpeak it by experience, &c. Another holy Martyr, Richard Collier, after his condemnation ſang a Pſalm:Ibid. 1533. Wherefore the Prieſts and the officers railed at him, ſaying, Hee was out of his wits.
Verſ. 11. The houſe of the wicked ſhall bee overthrown] As Phocas his high walls were, becauſe ſin was at the bottome. Brimſtone alſo ſhall bee ſcattered on the top, Job 18.15. As it befel Diocleſian, whoſe houſe was wholly conſumed with fire from Heaven: Wherewith himſelf alſo was ſo terrified, that hee died within a while after.Euſeb. de vit. Conſt. lib. 5.
But the Tabernacle of the upright ſhall flouriſh] The wicked have houſes, and are called the Inhabitants of the earth, Rev. 12.12. The upright have Tabernacles or Tents that were tranſportative, and taken down at pleaſure: Here they have no continuing City, no manſion-place: And yet that they have ſhall flouriſh. Our bed is green, the beams of our houſe are Cedar, and our rafters of Firr. Cant. 1.16, 17. See 2 Sam. 23.4.
Verſ. 12. There is a way that ſeemeth right unto a man] Sin comes cloathed with a ſhew of reaſon, Exod. 1.10. And luſt will ſo blear the underſtanding, that hee ſhall think that there is great ſenſe in ſinning. Adam was not deceived, 1 Tim. 2.14. That is, hee was not ſo much deceived by his judgement (though alſo by that too) as by his affection to his wife, which at length blinded his judgement. The heart firſt deceives us with colours; and when wee are once a doting after ſin, then wee joyn and deceive our hearts, James 1.26. uſing fallacious and ſpecious ſophiſms, to make our ſelves think that lawful to day, which wee our ſelves held unlawful yeſterday; and that wee are poſſeſt of thoſe graces whereto wee are perfect ſtrangers.
But the end thereof are the waies of death] Via multiplex ad mortem. The very firſt ſtep in this evil way, was a ſtep to Hell: But the journies end (if men ſtop not, or ſtep not back in time) is undoubted deſtruction. Some flatter themſelves, as Micah, Judg. 17.13. They flye to the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord: And think to take Sanctuary and ſave themſelves there from all danger; as the Jews fable that Og King of Baſhan eſcaped in the flood by riding aſtride upon the Ark without. Wherein it falls out oft as it did with the riflers of Semiramis her tomb; who, where they expected to finde the richeſt treaſure, met with a deadly poiſon. Or, as it doth with him, that lying aſleep upon a ſteep rock, and dreaming of great matters befallen him, ſtarts ſuddenly for joy, and ſo breaks his neck at the bottome. As hee that makes a bridge of his own ſhadow, cannot but fall into the water: So neither can hee eſcape the pit of Hell, who laies his own preſumption in place of Gods promiſe, who caſts himſelf upon the unknown mercies of God, &c.
Verſ. 13. Even in laughter the heart is ſorrowful] Nulla eſt ſincera voluptas. Labor eſt etiam ipſa voluptas. Of carnal pleaſures a man may break his neck, before his faſt. All this avails mee nothing, ſaid Haman. Omnia fui, & nihil profuit, ſaid that Emperour. Vanity of vanity, all is vanity, ſaid Solomon, and not vanity onelyonly, but vexation of ſpirit. Nothing in themſelves, and yet full of power and activity to inflict vengeance and vexation upon the ſpirit of a man; ſo that even in laughter, the heart is ſorrowful. Some kinde of frothy and flaſhy mirth wicked men may have; ſuch as may wet the mouth, but not warm the heart, ſmooth the brow, but not fill the breaſt: It is but a cold armful, as Lycophron ſaith of an evil wife; as they repent in the face, Mat. 6.16. ſo they rejoyce in the face, foreign. Lyc.not in the heart, 2 Cor. 5.12. Rident & ringuntur; there is a ſnare or a cord in the ſin of the wicked, that is, to ſtrangle their joy with, but the righteous ſing and are merry, Prov. 29.6. Others may revel, they onelyonly muſt rejoyce, Hoſ. 9.1.
And the end of that mirth is heavineſs] They dance to the Timbrel and Harp, but ſuddenly they turn into Hell, Job 21.12, 13. and ſo their merry dance ends in a miſerable downfal.Luk. 6. Woe bee to you that laugh now. Thoſe merry Greeks (that are ſo afraid of ſadneſs, that they baniſh all ſeriouſneſs) ſhall one day wring for it. Adoniah's gueſts had ſoon enough of their good cheer and jollity: So had Belſhazzar and his combibones optimi. Thou mad fool, what doſt thou? Eccleſ. 2.ſaith Salomon to the mirth-monger, that holds it the onelyonly happineſs to laugh and bee fat. Knoweſt thou not yet there will bee bitterneſs in the end? Principium dulce eſt, ſed finis amoris amarus, The candle of the wicked ſhall be put out in a vexing-ſnuff. Their mirth (as Comets) blazeth much, but ends in a peſtilent vapour. As lightning it ſoon vaniſheth, leaveth a greater darkneſſe behinde it, and is attended with the renting and roaring thunder of Gods wrath.
Verſ. 14. The Back-ſlider in heart ſhall bee filled with his own waies] Hee hath made a match with miſchief, hee ſhall ſoon have enough of it; hee hath ſold himſelf to do wickedneſs, and hee ſhall bee ſure of his paiment; hee hath drawn back to perdition, hee hath ſtollen from his colours, run away from his Captain,foreign. Heb. 10.38. hee ſhall have Marſhal-Law for it. God will ſerve ſuch odious Apoſtates, as Theodorick King of Gothes did a Deacon, that to engratiate with this Arrian Prince, turned Arrian; inſtead of preferring him, hee cut off his head. Or as that Turk ſerved the traitour that betrayed the Rhodes: His promiſed wife and portion were preſented; but the Turk told him that hee would not have a Chriſtian to bee his Son-in-law, but hee muſt bee a Muſulman, that is, a beleeving Turk both within and without. And therefore hee cauſed his baptized skin (as hee called it) to bee taken off, and him to bee caſt in a bed ſtrawed with ſalt, that hee might get a new skin, and ſo hee ſhould bee his Son-in-Law. But the wicked wretch ended his life with ſhame and torment.
But a good man ſhall bee ſatisfied from himſelf] For hee hath a ſpring within his own breaſt, hee needs not ſhark abroad: hee hath an Autarkie, a ſelf-ſufficiency, 1 Tim. 6.6. Hic ſat lucis, ſaid Oecolampadius claping his hand on his breaſt, when ſick, and asked whether the light did not offend him? Another being likewiſe ſick, and asked how hee did? anſwered, My body is weak, my mind is well. Mr. Bolton.A third, when the pangs of death were upon him, being asked by a very dear friend that took him by the hand, whether hee felt not much pain? Truly no, ſaid hee, the greateſt I finde is your cold hand. Theſe good men knew within themſelves, that they had in Heaven a better, and a more enduring ſubſtance, Heb. 10.34. within themſelves they knew it; not in others, not in books, but in their own experience and apprehenſion, in the workings of their own hearts. Their knowledge was, non in eodicibus, ſed incordibus: They could feelingly ſay, that in doing of Gods will (not onelyonly for doing it, or after it was now done, but even whiles they were doing of it) there was great reward, Pſal. 19.11. Righteouſneſs is its own reward, and is never without a double joy to bee its ſtrength: Gaudium in re, gaudium in ſpe, gaudium de poſſeſſione, Bern.gaudium de promiſſione, gaudium de praeſenti exhibitione, gaudium de futura expectatione, joy in hand, and in hope, in preſent poſſeſſion, and in certain reverſion.
Verſ. 15. The ſimple beleeveth every word] You may draw him any way with a wet finger, perſwade him, to any thing, as Rehoboam that old Baby. foreign, was a very good rule of Epicharmus. Bee not light of beleef: Try before you truſt, look before you leap.Bern. de bono deſert. Alioqu… ſaliens antequàm videas, caſurus es antequàm debeas. Wiſdome would, that as men ſhould not bee over cenſorions (This man blaſphemeth, ſaid they of our Saviour) ſo neither overcredulous, as the giddy-headed Galathiaens were to their ſeducing Doctors, Chap. 1.6. I wonder that yee are ſo ſoon removed, &c. Let us leave to the Papiſts Miniſtrorum muta officia, populi caeca obſequia, their Miniſters dumb ſervices, their peoples blinde obediences: And ever count it a ſingular folly to take mens bare authority in matters of faith, and not to prove the ſpirits whether they are of God, 1 Joh. 4.1. as thoſe noble Beraeans did, and are worthily renowned for it, Act. 17.
But the prudent man looketh well to his goings] Hee looketh not ſo much what others beleeve, or not beleeve, do or not do, as what hee is bound to beleeve or do. Hee pins not his faith to another mans ſleeve, hee frames not his pace by another mans practice, but walks by line and by rule, treads gingerly, ſteps warily, lifts not up one foot till hee findes ſure footing for the other, as thoſe Pſal. 35.6. This is to walk exactly, accurately, not as fools, but as wiſe,foreign. Eph. 5.15.
Verſ. 16. A wiſe man feareth and departeth from evil] Hee trembleth at the judgements, whiles they hang in the threatnings, meets God with intreaties of peace, and ſo redeems his own ſorrows. Solo auditu contremiſco, ſaith Hierom, Speaking of that terrible text, Ezek. 16.42. I tremble at the very hearing of it. So Eraſmus repeating thoſe words, Ezek. 3.18. His blood will I require at thy hands; Theſe, ſaith hee, are fulmina, non verba, not words, but thunderbolts. A good childe, if but threatned only, will amend his fault; yea, if hee but hear others threatned. Daniel was more troubled than Nebuchadnezzar was, Dan. 4.18. Habakkuck, when in a viſion hee ſaw the judgements of God that were to come upon the Caldeans, it made his very heart to ake and quake within him, Chap. 3.16.
But the fool rageth, and is confident] Some render it Rangeth, and is confident, tranſit & confidit (ſo the Vulgar, and Original will well enough bear it) hee paſſeth on from ſin to ſin, like a mad man, and yet perſwades himſelf that all ſhall do well; ſuch a deſperate fool was Balaam, though the Angel met him with a drawn ſword, yet hee would needs on; and what was the iſſue? hee dyed by the ſword of Iſrael, though hee ſeemed a friend to Iſrael. Not to bee warned, is both a juſt preſage and deſert of ruine.
Verſ. 17. Hee that is ſoon angry, dealeth fooliſhly] Alexander in his hot blood ſlew his deareſt friend, whom hee would have revived again with his heart-blood.
— Qui non moderabitur irae
Infectum velit eſſe dolor quod ſuaſerit & mens.
Raſh anger differs from madneſs (ſaith Seneca) in nothing, but in time onelyonly. See my Common-place of Anger.
And a man of wicked devices is hated] i. e. Hee that beareth a grudge, intending revenge (as one that onelyonly wants, and therefore waits a fit time, as Abſolom did for Amnon) this is a dangerous man, and deſervedly deteſted of all: It is counted Manhood, indeed its Doghoo… The Curs of Congo they ſay, bite, but never bark: Eſau threatned Jacob. … …ius lentus in meditando, ubi prorupiſſet, triſtioribus dictis atrocia facta conjungebat. The more hee meditated revenge, the more did time and delay ſharpen it; and the further off bee threatned, the heavier the ſtroke fell; therefore hee was generally hated, as an odious miſcreant.
Verſ. 18. The ſimple inherit folly] Acceperunt per ſucceſſionem ſeu hareditario jure, ſo one renders it, they are as wiſe as their fore-fathers, and they are reſolved to bee no wiſer. Me ex ea opinione quam à majoribus accepi de cultis deorum, nullius unquam movebit oratio, ſaid Tully. I will never forſake that way of divine ſervice, that I have received from my fore-fathers, for any mans pleaſure, or by any mans perſwaſion. The Monarch of Morocco told the Engliſh Ambaſſadour for King John, that hee had lately read Saint Pauls Epiſtles, which he liked ſo well,Heyl. Geog. that were he now to chuſe his Religion, he would, before any other, embrace Chriſtianity. But every one ought, ſaith he, to dye in the religion received from his Anceſtors, and the leaving of the faith wherein he was born, was the only thing that he diſliked in that Apoſtle.
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge] They know that dies diem docet: and therefore are not ſo wedded to their old Principles, Superſtitions and Fopperies, but that they can, as right reaſon requires, relinquiſh and abjure them, glorifying the Word,Acts 13.48 Acts 13. And receiving the truth in love, 2 Theſ. 2.10. whereby it ſoon comes to paſſe, that they get good repute and report of all men (as Demetrius had) yea and of the truth it ſelf, 3 Joh. 12. which is the Crown of all commendation. Haud velim Eraſmi gloria aut nomine vehi, ſaith Luther. I care not to be cried up as Eraſmus is, &c.
Verſ. 19. The evil bow before the good] Here they do ſo many times, as Joſephs brethren before him in his greatneſſe, as Saul before Samuel, Balſhazzar before Daniel, Euſeb.the perſecuting tyrants before Conſtantine the great; yea one of them, viz. Maximinus Galerius, being viſited with grievous ſickneſſe, not only proclaimed liberty to the poor perſecuted Chriſtians, but alſo commanded their Churches to be re-edified,Creſius and publick Prayers to be made for his recovery. So Ezra 6.10. Pray for the Kings life, and for his Sons: ſome of which had dyed in their minority, for the reſt therefore Prayer muſt be made by the Church. That place is wel known, Iſa. 49.23. Kings ſhall be thy nurſing fathers, and their Queens thy nurſing mothers: they ſhall bow down to thee with their faces toward the earth, and lick up the duſt of thy feet, &c. The Prophet ſeems to allude to the manner of the Perſians: Pictorum ſolea baſiare regum. Martial.who when they were to ſpeak to their King, did firſt kiſſe the pavement whereon he trod. Howſoever natural conſciences cannot but doe homage to the Image of God, ſtamped upon the natures and practices of the righteous (as is afore-noted,) and the worſt cannot but think well of ſuch, and honour them in their hearts. In the life to come theſe things ſhall have their full accompliſhment, and at the laſt day when the Saints ſhall judge the world, and Chriſt ſhall have put all things under his feet, ſo that they ſhall have power over the Nations, Rev. 2.26.
Verſ. 20. The poor is hated] i. e. Leſſe loved, little respected, as Gen. 29.31. Mal. 1.5. Luke 14.26. The Heathen could ſay, foreign. Adverſity findes few friends. Et cum fortuna ſtatque caditque fides. Few will appear for ſuffering Saints, (This Job and David much complain of; but as when a Deer is ſhot, the reſt of the Herd puſh him out of their company; ſo here, Tempora ſi fueriut nubila, ſolus eris. The ſame Hebrew word that ſignifies Winter, (an Embleme of Poverty,) ſignifies reproach. This thy ſon, Luke 15.30. Not this my brother, Joſeph.becauſe in poverty. The Samaritans would not once own the Jewes when they were at an under, but diſavow them, as they did to Antiochus Epiphanes. But when in proſperity, then they would curry favour with them, and call them their ſweet Couſins. When it was ſometimes diſputed among the Romans in the Council, uſing to deifie great men, whether Chriſt, having done many wonderful works, ſhould bee received into the number of the gods? it was reſolved that he ſhould not, Propter hoc, quod paupertatem praedicarit & elogerit, quam mundus contemnit, becauſe he preached poverty, and choſe poor men whom the world cares not for.
Purchas.But the rich man hath many friends] Such as they are, ollares amici, trencherflies, ſuch as follow the ſcent, and (like Bohemian Curtes) will fawn upon a good ſuit. As for faithful friends, divitibus ideo amicus deeſt, quia nihil deeſt, ſaith one, few ſuch to be found, ſuch as with Ittai the Gittite, and Huſhai the Archite will ſtick cloſe to a David when ſtripped of all. Joſephus relates of the Jewes, that they were very careful how they received Proſelites in Salomons time, becauſe then the State of the Jews flouriſhed.
Verſ. 21. Hee that deſpiſeth his neighbour, ſinneth] His poor neighbour: Where the hedge is low, the beaſt will eaſily break over: None uſually are ſo trampled on with the feet of pride, and contempt, by the great Bulls of Baſan, as the neceſſitous and afflicted. Hence poor and afflicted are ſet together, Zeph. 3.12. ſo are to want, and to be abaſed, Phil. 4.11. This is a great ſin ſaith Salomon, it is to commit ſin, and to bee convinced of the Law, as tranſgreſſors, ſaith Saint James, chap. 3.9.
But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he] His ſins ſhall be remitted, his neceſſities relieved, and the bleſſings of God multiplied upon him, even a foreign. See my Common-place of Almes.
Verſ. 22. Doe they not erre that deviſe evil] Heb. That plow it and plot it, that dig it and delve it, that whet their wits and beat their brains about it;Toto errant calet doe not theſe erre? are they not heavenly wide, utterly out? ſhall they not miſſe of their purpoſe, and meet with diſappointment? witneſſe thoſe Babel-builders, Gen. 11. thoſe Kil-Chriſts, Pſal. 2. thoſe State Traytors, Sheba, Shebna, &c. divers Engliſh Traytors who drew their laſt thread in the Triangle of Tiburn. Knute the firſt Danique King, cauſed the falſe Edrics head to bee ſet on the higheſt part of the Tower of London: Daniels Hiſt. 19.therein performing his promiſe of advancing him above any Lord in the Land. Traytors always become edious, though the treaſon bee commodious. Philip Duke of Auſtria, Parei Hiſt. prof. madul. 769.paid the Ambaſſadours of Charls the fourth (who had betrayed their truſt) in counterfeit coyn: whereof when they complained, he anſwered, that falſe coyn was good enough for falſe knaves: James the firſt King of Scots, was murdered in Perth, by Walter Earl of Athol, in hope to attain the Crown:Hect. Boeth. but his hopes failed him. Crowned indeed he was, but with a Crown of red hot Iron clapt upon his head, being one of the tortures wherewith hee ended at once his wicked dayes and deviſes.
But mercy and truth ſhall be to them that deviſe good] Mercy and truth were the beſt that David could wiſh to his faſt friend Ittai, 2 Sam. 15.20. Theſe two Attributes of God ſhall cauſe that good deviſes ſhall not miſcarry. His mercy moves him to promiſe, his truth binds him to perform, 2 Sam. 7.18, 21. For thy words ſake, and according to thine own heart haſt thou done all theſe things. According to thine own heart, that is, of meer mercy, out of pure and unexcited love, thou didſt give thy Word and Promiſe, and for thy words ſake thou haſt performed it.
Verſ. 23. In all labour there is profit.] In all honeſt labour: for there are that doe wickedly with both hands earneſtly; and what profit have ſuch of all their labour, &c. Eccleſ. 1.3. doe they not take pains to goe to Hell? There are alſo that labour about foreign, toylſome toys, that pay not for the pains, that doe magno conatu magnas nugas agere. Such a one was Paleottus Arch-biſhop of Bonony, who made a great book of the ſhadow of Chriſts Body in a …ndon; and it was commented upon by the Profeſſour there. This Ariſtotle calls laborious loſſe of time. The Apoſtle calls upon men to labour, working with their hands the thing that is good: ſo ſhall they have,foreign not for their own uſes only, but alſo to give to him that needeth, Epheſ. 4.28.
But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury] Great talkers are doe-littles, for moſt part, Corniculas citiùs in Africa, quam res rationeſque ſolidas in Turriani ſcriptis invenies, ſaith one, Turrian, was a very wordy man, yee cannot finde matter for words in him. foreign. The Athenians fought againſt Philip with words and meſſages, ſaith one: but Rabſhekah could tell Hezekiah, that warre was to be made (ſo is work to be done) not with words, and the talk of the lips, but with counſel and ſtrength, Iſa. 36.5. And why ſtand you looking upon one another? get you down to Aegypt, ſaid Jacob to his ſons, Gen. 42.1.
Verſ. 24. The crown of the wiſe is their riches] An ornament, an incouragement in well-doing, and an inſtrument of doing much good, if God give an heart thereto: for quid cervo ingentia cornua cum, deſit animus? To what end is a treaſure, if a man have loſt the Key that leads to it?
Vel mihi da clavem, vel mihi tolle ſeram.
But the fooliſhneſſe of fools is folly] That is, of rich fools: ſuch as was Pope Clemens the fifth, of whom the Hiſtorian ſaith, Papa hic ditior quam ſapientior, that hee was more wealthy than wiſe. The Crown of the wiſe is their riches; but yet give them a fool, you put a ſword into a mad mans hand; the folly of ſuch fools will ſoon bee fooliſhneſs. Why? was it not fooliſhneſs before they were rich? yes, but now it is become egregious fooliſhneſs. foreign, the earth cannot bear the inſolencies of ſuch. Set a beggar on horſe-back, &c.
Verſ. 25. A true witneſs delivereth ſouls] Or lives that lye at ſtake. Hee that helps the truth in ſuch a neceſſity, doth a worthy work. To walk about with ſlanders, is to ſhed blood, Ezek. 22.9. Way was made to that bloody French maſſacre, by falſe reports caſt abroad by the Fryar-lyars, that the Proteſtants under pretence of Religion, met by night that they might feed daintily, and then lye together promiſcuouſly. He that hath a mind to hang his Dog, (ſaith the French Proverb) will firſt give out that hee is run mad.John 8.48. The Devil was firſt a lyar, and then a murtherer from the beginning.
Verſ. 26. In the fear of the Lord is ſtrong confidence] The reverential fear of God, is monimentum, munimentum, ornamentum. The wiſe man had ſaid, verſ. 24. The Crown of the wiſe are their riches, and chap. 18.11. hee will tell us, that the rich mans wealth is his ſtrong City. Now, leſt any ſhould hereby bee brought to think of riches more highly than is meet, hee gives us to know, that wealth ſevered from the fear of God, can neither adorn us, nor ſecure us. Great is the confidence of a good conſcience. Our God whom wee ſerve is able to deliver us, and hee will deliver us out of thine hand, Dan. 3.17. Hezekiah pulled down the brazen Serpent,2 King. 18.5. for hee truſted in God. At ego rem divinam facio, But I am ſacrificing, ſaid Numa, when they told him the enemy was at hand. Non ſic Deos coluimus, aut ſic vivimus ut illi nos vincerent, ſaid the Emperour Antoninus. Wee are bold to beleeve that God will deal better with us than ſo.
And his children have a place of Refuge] i. e. Gods children run to his name and are ſafe. Or, the children of him that fears God. For God will bleſs thoſe that fear him, both ſmall and great, Pſal. 115. If I can but once finde the fear of God in thoſe about mee,Selnecer. ſaid Reverend Claviger, ſatis habeo, ſatiſquo mihi, meae …xori, filiis, & filiabus proſpexi, I ſhall have enough for my ſelf, wife and children; they will bee all cared for.
Verſ. 27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life] So ſaid to bee, both for the conſtant faithfulneſs, as never failing, and for the gracious effects, viz. Bleſſings of all ſorts; 1 Temporal, Prov. 22.4. Riches, Honour, Life. 2 Spiritual, Mal. 4.2. Such ſhall grow up as the Calves of the ſtall, fat and fair-liking. 3 Eternal, Pſal. 31. O how great things, &c. eye hath not ſeen, &c. It ſhall bee alwaies well with them, Eccleſ. 8.12. And though many afflictions, &c. yet hee that feareth God, ſhall come out of them all, Eccleſ. 7.18.
To depart from the ſnares of death] Satan that mighty hunter, hath laid ſnares for us in all places: And the way of this world is like the vale of Siddim, ſlimy and ſlippery, full of lime-pits and pitfalls, ſnares and ſtumbling-blocks, laid on purpoſe to maim us or miſchief us. Hee that fears God, comes off without hurt, by remembring that (which as ſhort as it is, yet our memories are ſhorter) Cave, Deus videt. Take heed, God ſeeth thee. A godly man had theſe verſes written before him on a Table, in his ſtudy;
Ne pecces, Deut ipſe videt, tuus Angelus aſtat:
Accuſat Satanas & lex, mens conſcia culpae:
Mors incerta furit: cruciat te lurid us Orcus:
Et manet aeternum triſti damnatio poenâ.
Verſ. 28. In the multitude of people is the Kings honour] For that's a ſign of peace, plenty, proſperity, and juſt government, as in Salomons daies, when Iſrael and Judah were many, as the ſand which is by the Sea in multitude, eating, and drinking, and making merry,Flor. hiſt. lib. 4 1 King. 4.20. and as in Auguſtus his daies, when Chriſt (the Prince of Peace) was born into the world, cuncta atque continua totius generis humani aut pax fuit, aut pactio. Ferdinand the third, King of Spain, reigned full 35 years: In all which time, nec fames nec pestis fuit in regnoſuo, ſaith Lopez, Gloſſ. in prolog part. 1.there was neither famine nor peſtilence throughout that Kingdome. What incredible waſte of men hath war lately made in Germany (that ſtage of war) in Ireland, and here in this Kingdome, beſides what formerly? In the Civil diſſentions between the houſes of York and Lancaſter, were ſlain eighty Princes of the blood royal, and twice as many Natives of England, as were loſt in the two Conqueſts of France. Dan. Hiſt.The diſſentions between England and Scotland, conſumed more Chriſtian blood, wrought more ſpoil and deſtruction to both Kingdomes, and continued longer, than ever quarrel wee read of did between any two people of the world.Camd. Eliſ. 165. Bee wiſe now therefore, O yee Kings, &c. Tu vero Herodes ſanguinolente time, as Beza covertly warned Charles the ninth, author of the French Maſſacre. Many parts of Turkie lie unpeopled: moſt of the poor being enforced with Victuals and other neceſſaries, to follow their great armies in their long expeditions; of whom,Turk. Hiſt. ſcarce one of ten ever return home again, there by the way periſhing, if not by the enemies ſword, yet by want of victuals, intemperateneſs of the air, or immoderate pains-taking. Hence the Proverb, where-ever the Great Turk ſets his foot, there graſs grows not any more.
Verſ. 29. Hee that is ſlow to anger, is of great underſtanding] The wiſdome from above is firſt pure, then peaceable, tractable, &c. Thunder, Hail, Tempeſt, neither trouble nor h… caeleſtial bodies. Anger may ruſh into a wiſe mans boſome, not reſt there, Eccleſ. 7.9. it dwells onelyonly where it domineers, and that is onelyonly where a fool is Maſter of the family. A wiſe man either receives it not, or ſoon rids it. Bee ſlow to wrath, foreign, ira, horror, furor, wrath, war, jar, ſtrife, &c.is a leſſon that God hath engraven (as one wittily obſerveth) in our very nature. For the laſt letter that any childe ordinarily ſpeaketh is R. and that's the radical letter of all words of ſtrife and wrath, almoſt in all languages.
But hee that is haſty of ſpirit, exalteth folly] Hee ſets it up upon a pole, as it were; hee makes an Oyes, and proclaims his own folly, by his ireful looks, words, geſtures, actions, as that furious Fryar Feuardenſius doth in his book called Theomachia Calviniſtica; where hee took up his Pen with as much paſſion and wrath, as any ſouldier takes up his ſword. Such another haſty fool was Fryar Alphonſus the Spaniard, who reaſoning with Mr. Bradford Martyr,Act. & Mon. was in a wonderful rage chafing with Om, and Cho; ſo that if Bradford had been any thing hot, one houſe could not have held them.
Verſ. 30. A …ound heart is the life of the fleſh] A heart well freed from paſſions and perturbations holds out long, and enjoys good health: Neither cauſeth it moleſtation of mind, or want of welfare to others.R. Levi. It is the life of fleſhes (in the plural) not onelyonly its own, but other mens bodies are the better (at leaſt not the worſe) for it; whereas the envious and angry man rangeth and rageth; and like a mad Dog biting all hee meets, ſets them (as much as in him lies) all a madding, and undoes them.
But envy is the rottenneſs of the bones] A corroding and corrupting diſeaſe it is, like that which the Phyſicians call Corruptio totius ſubſtantiae, it dries up the marrow; and becauſe it cannot come at another mans heart, this hell-hag feeds upon its own, tormenting the poor carkaſs without and within. It is the moth of the ſoul, and the worm (as the Hebrew word ſignifies) of the bones, thoſe ſtronger parts of the body; it is the ſame to the whole man, that ruſt is to Iron (as Antiſthenes affirmeth) it devoureth it ſelf firſt, as the worm doth the Nut it grows in. Socrates called it ſerram animae, the ſouls ſaw; and wiſhed that envious men had more ears and eyes than others, that they might have the more torment by beholding and hearing of other mens happineſſes, For invidia ſimul peccat & plectitur, expedita juſtitia. Like the Viper, it is born by eating through the dams belly: Like the Bee, it loſeth its ſting and life together: like the little Flie, to put out the Candle, it burns it ſelf: like the Serpent Porphyrius, it drinks moſt part of its own venome; like the Viper that leapt upon Saint Pauls hand to hurt him, but periſhed in the fire; or as the Snake in the Fable, that licked off her own tongue, as envying teeth to the file in the forge. In fine, Envy ſlayeth the ſilly ſoul, Job 5.2. as it did that fellow in Pauſanias, who envying the glory of Theagenes a famous wreſtler,Pauſan. Eliac. p. 188. whipt his Statue (ſet up in honour of him after his death) every night ſo long, till at length it fell upon him, and killed him.
Verſ. 31. Hee that oppreſſeth the poor, reproacheth his Maker] Sith it is hee that maketh poor, and that maketh rich, and (thereby) killeth and maketh alive, 1 Sam. 2.6, 7. Rich men onelyonly ſeem to bee alive. Hence David ſending his ſervants to that Pamphagus, 1 Sam. 25.6.that rich cormudgin Nabal, ſpeaketh on this ſort,Pſal. 88.5. Thus ſhall yee ſay to him that liveth (there is no more in the Original) as if rich men onelyonly were alive; poor people are free among the dead (free of that company, as David was) when they are cruſhed and oppreſſed, eſpecially by rich Cormorants and Cannibals, Pſal. 14.4. A poor mans livelihood is his life, Luke 8.43. for a poor man in his houſe is like a ſnail in his ſhell, cruſh that, and you kill him. This reflects very much upon God, the poor mans King (as James the fourth of Scotland was called) who will not ſuffer it to paſs unpuniſhed; for hee is gracious. As unskilful Hunters may ſhoot at a beaſt, but kill a man: So do theſe oppreſſours, hit God the poor mans maker.
But hee honoureth him that hath mercy on the poor] Quibus verbis nihil gravius, nihil efficacius dici potuit: God takes it for an honour; how ſhould this prevail with us? Honour the Lord with thy ſubſtance, Prov. 3.8. and take it for a ſingular honour, that hee will vouchſafe to bee thus honoured by thee, as David did,foreign Heb. 12.23. 2 Sam. 29. How exceedingly ſhall ſuch bee honoured in that great Panegyris at the laſt day, when the Judge ſhall ſay, Come yee bleſſed, &c. I was hungry, and yee fed mee, &c. Mat. 25.
Verſ. 32. The wicked is driven away in his wickedneſs] Being arreſted by death (as a cruel Serjeant) in the Devils name, hee is hurried away, and hurled into hell, as dying in his ſins, and killed by death, Rev. 2.23. And oh what a dreadful skreek gives the guilty ſoul then to ſee it ſelf launching into an infinite Ocean of ſcalding lead, and muſt ſwim naked in it for ever!
But the righteous hath hope in his death] Death to the righteous, as the valley of Achor, is a door of hope to give entrance into Paradiſe; to the wicked it is a trap-door to Hell.foreign. Improbi dum ſpirant, ſperant: juſtus etiam cum expirat, ſpe…at. Aelian tells how hee once heard a dying Swan ſing moſt ſweetly and melodiouſly, which in her life time hath no ſuch pleaſant note. As on the other ſide Syrens are ſaid to ſing curiouſly while they live, but to roar horribly when they dye. Such is the caſe of the godly and the wicked when they come to dye.
Verſ. 33. Wiſdome reſteth in the heart of him, &c.] Hee ſets not his good parts and practices a ſunning, as vain-glorious fools uſe to do, that they may bee cried up,Epiſt. ad Julian. conſolator. and applauded. As Hierome calls Crates the Philoſopher (wee may call the whole Nation of them ſo) Gloriae animal, popularis aurae vile mancipium, a baſe hunter after praiſe of men. The truly wiſe concealeth himſelf till hee ſeeth a fit time, and may bee compared to the red Roſe, which though outwardly not ſo fragrant, is inwardly far more cordial than the Damask, being more thrifty of its ſweetneſs, and reſerving it in it ſelf; Or, to the Violet which grows low, hangs the head downward, and hides it ſelf with its own leaves: Whereas the Marrigold (of nothing ſo good a ſmell) opens and ſhuts with the Sun; which when it is ſet, it hangs down the head, as forlorn and deſperate. So, that which is in the midſt of fools is made known. Jehonadab muſt needs ſee what zeal Jehu hath for the Lord of Hoaſts; His piety is ſhored up by popularity, &c.
Verſ. 34. Righteouſneſs exalteth a Nation] True Religion and the power of godlineſs is the beauty and bulwark of a State: So are good Laws enacted and executed.Deut. 28.13. This made the faithful City (Iſa. 1.21.) to bee the Princeſs of Provinces, Lam. 1.1. that land, a land of deſire, an heritage of glory, Jer. 3.19. even the glory of all Nations, Ezek. 20.6. Joſephus calls that Commonwealth, foreign, and Prospers conceit is, that Judae… were ſo called, becauſe they received jus Dei. It was ſaid of old, Angli quaſi Angeli, and Anglia regnum Dei. England was called the Kingdome of God; and Albion quaſi Olbion, Polyd. Virg.a happy Country, the Paradiſe of pleaſure, and Garden of God. Now the Lord is with us, while wee are with him, &c. But if wee caſt off the yoke of his obedience, as Capernaum, though lifted up to heaven, wee ſhall bee brought down to hell. Sins are the Snuffes that dim our Candleſtick, and threaten the removal of it: The leven that defiles our Paſſeovers, and urges God to paſs away and depart from us; The reproach that will render us a Proverb and a by-word, Deut. 28. an aſtoniſhment and an hiſſing, Jer. 25.9. like Sodome and her ſiſters, a reproach and a taunt, Ezek, 5.15. which to prevent,Iſidor. Currat poenitentia, ne praecurrat ſententia. Mittamus preces & lachrymas cordis legatos. Cyprian.Let us break off our ſins, and cry mightily to God; For otherwiſe a diſmal change, a ſad removal of our Candleſtick may bee as certainly foreſeen, and foretold, as if viſions and letters were ſent us from heaven, as once to thoſe ſeven Churches of Aſia, Rev. 2. & 3.
Verſ. 35. The Kings favour is toward a wiſe ſervant] As was Pharaohs toward Joſeph, Solomons toward Jeroboam, Dariuſſes toward Daniel, Henry the eighths toward Cromwell, whom for his wiſdome and faithfulneſs, hee raiſed from a mean man (ſon to a Blackſmith) to bee firſt Maſter of his Jewel-houſe, then Baron of Okeham in Rutlandſhire, then Knight of the Garter, Earl of Eſſex, Lord great Chamberlain, and laſtly, ordained him his Vicar general.Speed. And if Kings do thus, what will not the King of Kings do for every faithful and wiſe ſervant of his, whom he hath made Ruler over his houſhold, Mat. 24.45. Verily, I ſay unto you, that hee ſhall make him Ruler over all his goods, verſ. 47. yea, partaker of his Maſters joy, Mat. 25.
But his wrath is againſt him that cauſeth ſhame] Such as was Jeroboam at length, Haman, Shebua, Ziba, Gehezi, Ahitophel, Judas, &c. It fares with many Princes, as it doth with the creature called Millipeda, which the more feet it hath, the ſlowlier it goeth. Corrupt ſervants hinder the courſe of Juſtice, that it cannot run down as a torrent. This reflects upon their Lords, and at length falls heavily upon themſelves.